CHAPTER 78: ROHAN

Rohan pieces together that Vantage, an ancient Scottish estate, is the target spelled by the Hawthorne planetarium. He recalls orchestrating Ian Johnstone-Jameson—Jameson’s father—into gambling the property away to the Devil’s Mercy, noting the lineage likely passed through firstborn daughters until a son squandered it. He recognizes the Gilded Blade’s misdirection: staging a prior Game with Katharine Payne and the duchess so a member could openly own Vantage without suspicion.

From letters, Rohan knows the Crucible sits in vast subterranean chambers beneath Vantage, beyond what he was allowed to see while designing that Game. He concludes someone wanted him and Jameson familiar with the terrain. Acting on this realization, Rohan cuts off Lyra’s call on Grayson’s phone and warns that waiting for John Oren, Alisa, or Nash will only increase risk and cede control.

Rohan underscores the stakes: Candidates can die, and delay could doom them. Jameson cites Nora’s belief that the Blade can be taken down from inside the Crucible; Grayson extends the target to the Kyrie and the Blade’s web. As calls pour in, Rohan presses the choice—wait and endanger more people, involve authorities and risk failure, or move now with a small team.

Xander insists on joining despite concerns; Jameson agrees to keep Nash out to preserve his safety and immunities. One by one, Grayson, Jameson, Xander, and Toby power down their phones, committing to a blacked-out operation. They agree on stealth entry, exits, backups, schematics, and heavy armament. Rohan, energized by a forming plan and home-field advantage, takes point and promises to handle the logistics.